pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: compassion


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Live Out These Words

Reading: Matthew 6:9-11

Matthew 6:11 – “Give us the bread we need for today.”

Today’s reading brings us a portion of “The Lord’s Prayer.” It is just three short verses but, as it was with much of what Jesus said, there is a lot to these words. There are three requests of God in these verses. And there are actions and responses required of us.

Verse 9 reads, in part, “uphold the holiness of your name.” Jesus is asking God to keep God’s holiness ever on our hearts and minds. To uphold this requires much of us. First and foremost we recall the charge to be holy as God is holy. Moment by moment we are charged with being like Christ was in the world: holy, yes, but also compassionate, forgiving, generous, empathetic, present.

Verse 10 asks God to “bring in your kingdom.” This asks God to make earth like heaven, to have God’s will done here on earth. This, of course, requires our cooperation and help. It calls us to love and care for “the least of these” and to stand against injustice, oppression, violence… These evils have no place in God’s kingdom – in heaven or here on earth.

Lastly, “Give us the bread we need for today.” This asks God to provide our daily bread – our physical sustenance – and to provide for our other needs too. This is a charge to trust in God. It is not a prayer for God to help us get what we think we need or to empower us so that we can be self-sufficient. No, it is a prayer of surrender, leaning into God’s care and trusting that this will be more than sufficient.

In all ways may we strive to live out these words.

Prayer: Lord God, guide us today to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, hearing your voice, feeling your nudges. Lead us to be in the world as Christ was in the world – loving others more than self, serving humbly and gently. Deepen our trust and faith in you as we experience your power working in us and through us, transforming us and your world. Amen.


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Instead…

Reading: Job 20:19-29

Job 20:22 – “Even in their plenty, they are hard-pressed; all sorts of trouble comes on them.”

Today’s reading comes from the book of Job. Much of the content, including today’s, is set in the belief of the day: “God blessed the righteous and punishes the wicked.” In the understanding of the day, there were no exceptions. Zophar, today’s speaker, and Job’s wife and other friends – they cannot begin to fathom the possibility that Job is righteous. Job lost almost everything, therefore Job is a sinner.

In verse 19 Zophar is speaking of “they.” These are the wicked in the land. These are the sinners in the context of the day. These crush and abandon the poor, stealing their houses. These do not know contentment. The constant desire for more leaves their “belly” ever hungry. And what they’ve accumulated, Zophar says, “their riches will not endure.” He adds, “Even in their plenty, they are hard-pressed; all sorts of trouble comes on them.” Yes, there is no true peace or joy, no true contentment for the wicked of this world.

One day, though, Zophar tells us, God will fill the wicked’s bellies with “burning anger.” One day the wicked will enter the “complete darkness” that awaits them. Yes, one day heaven will “expose their guilt” because this is the fate of the wicked. All of this remains true for those who live for self, who trod over others and do not care, who take advantage of the powerless and the marginalized. There is a choice to be made. There is a better way: the way of Christ. Instead of accumulating, we can practice generosity. Instead of running over, we can stand with. Instead of seeking advantage, we can strive to level the playing field for the lowly and the downtrodden. Brothers and sisters in Christ, may it be so for you and for me.

Prayer: Lord God, turn our hearts away from selfish thoughts, desires, and actions. Turn our hearts towards compassion, generosity, and justice. Use us to stem the tide of evil that plagues our land. Use us as light and love that shines into the darkness and hate. Amen.


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Raining Down Love

Reading: Colossians 3:12-17

Colossians 3:14 – “And over all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.”

Credit: Rebecca Gelaney

Today’s reading is a call to authentic holy living. Paul begins by inviting the Colossians to being “clothed” in the practices and attitudes of Jesus. The Colossians are encouraged to put on “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” These five characteristics, when lived out fully each day, would reflect Christ to each other and to the world.

The focus then shifts to the other side of the equation: how to act and be with one another when the other isn’t practicing these Christlike traits. Paul exhorts the believers to be “tolerant with each other” and to regularly practice forgiveness. They are to do these things because God regularly does this with them.

Paul then turns to what John Wesley said “contains the whole of Christian holiness.” This one characteristic connects and undergirds all the others. In verse 14 Paul writes, “And over all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.” In all you do and say and think, lead with love. Doing so we will find that the peace of Christ does control our hearts. Leading in love we will express gratitude to God and for one another. Because of our love for our brothers and sisters in Christ, we will teach and warn each other, helping all to walk in faith.

In all things, in all ways, in all places and times, may we “do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.” This witness of love holds the power to transform hearts, systems, cultures, and nations. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, you call us to be love in the world, to bring light into the darkness. Use us as a witness that stands out from the ways of the world. Use us to rain down love into all of our relationships, into all of the brokenness, into the lives of all that we interact with. Fill us to overflowing with the spirit and heart of Christ, pouring these things back out into the world all around us. Amen.


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New Life in Christ

Reading: Romans 7:4-6

Romans 7:6 – “We have died with respect to the thing that controlled us, so that we can be slaves in the new life under the Spirit.”

As we begin this week focusing on having lips to speak and ears to listen, we begin in Romans 7. In our walk of faith, one of our greatest struggles is often choosing what voice(s) to listen to. For Christians this struggle often centers around what the world or our culture tries to tell us. This voice tells us that “things” matter most: wealth, power, status… Our inner being, “self,” can be drawn into this narrative because we are innately selfish, greedy, prideful…

In today’s passage Paul writes about choosing new life in Christ instead of trying to live under the Law of Moses. For devout Jews at this time following the Law was almost all that mattered: offer this sacrifice, say that prayer, attend the festival, give, worship. On the surface these can sound and can be good. But when one’s faithfulness to the rules leads to judging and rigidity in things like compassion, empathy, and service, then it can become a bad thing. And failing to uphold the Law led to a guilt and a shame that the Law could not remove.

Paul shares how this changes with the coming of Jesus Christ: “We have died with respect to the thing that controlled us, so that we can be slaves in the new life under the Spirit.” The religion of checking the boxes, the life that leads to death, has been superceded by faith in Christ. Living the new life in Christ, through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, tunes our ears to the will and way of God. This leads to a life that bears good fruit. Rooted in love, this fruit is peace, patience, joy, hope, forgiveness, self-control… Thanks be to God for the new life that we find in Christ!

Prayer: Lord God, as we die to self and to the ways of the world, what freedom we find. Instead of chasing after and worrying about accumulation, we become filled with content and peace, we practice presence and generosity. Instead of seeking to elevate self, we praise and glorify God as we lift others up. Thank you for the life of joy and hope, of love and grace found in Christ. Amen.


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Awareness and Compassion

Reading: Psalm 24:1-2

Psalm 24:1 – “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.”

In the children’s book Horton Hears a Who! the main character is Horton the elephant. Because he has ears to hear he discovers a whole world living on a speck of dust, people with houses and grocery stores and churches. Horton then goes to great lengths, endures scorn and ridicule and abuse, and gives his all to save, rescue, and protect these tiny people. This is because he believes in his heart that “a person is a person, no matter how small.” Because of his compassion and dedication, others join him in his cause.

In Psalm 24:1 we read, “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.” As the Creator, yes, the world is the Lord’s! We are included in that “everything.” Whether we are in the ruling party or in the smallest majority, whether we are flush with money or in deject poverty, whether we are the center of our own universe or the humblest servant – we are the Lord’s!

Volunteering this week at a high school church camp, we named the injustices we see in the world and we talked about solutions and needed resources to remedy these injustices. I was amazed by the breadth of the student’s awareness and the depth of their compassion and empathy. Some injustices had touched their lives, others touched their hearts. In these ways they were like Horton, who is like God, who we’re called to be like.

Our question to wrestle with is this: Who or what cries out, needing us to rise up, to stand up, to speak up, to walk alongside? As people of faith, may we be people of awareness and compassion.

Prayer: Lord God, you created all the earth and everything on it and in it. Because all this is the work of your hands, all declared good, may we see, treat, and understand all of creation as good, as sacred, as an extension of you. With this heart and within this mentality, may we be and bring your light and love, your healing and redemption into the world. Amen.


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This Jesus

Reading: Luke 19:1-6

Luke 19:6 – “So Zacchaeus came down at once, happy to welcome Jesus.”

“Zacchaeus was a wee little man, and a wee little man was he.” Did your brain jump to the next line? The children’s song and the story are familiar to most followers of Jesus. While we only read the first part of the story in today’s text, we know what happens when Zacchaeus comes down out of that sycamore tree.

One day Jesus was passing through town. The chief tax collector is curious. He wants to see this man that lots of people are talking about. Wild stories of healings and of profound teachings circulate amongst the Jews in Galilee and beyond. Zacchaeus was short – both physically and in statute amongst the local people. Collecting the burdensome taxes for the hated occupying force did not win him any friends. So he has to resort to climbing a tree so that he can simply see this Jesus as he walks through Jericho.

We will encounter people like Zacchaeus – sinned and flawed like us, curious about this man they’ve heard about. We are other believers are the stories the curious have heard and seen. The abnormal kindness, the ever present grace and peace, the contentment, the care and concern for those others ignore or shun – there is something attractional about this Jesus we follow and strive to emulate. This Jesus noticed, stopped, and talked with Zacchaeus. In verse 6 we read about the results: “So Zacchaeus came down at once, happy to welcome Jesus.” May we too be willing to engage those seeking, opening the door of their hearts to welcome this Jesus home.

Prayer: Lord God, first, walk with us daily, filling us with your Spirit and your presence, empowering us to be a good example of your love, grace, compassion… Second, prepare us for the conversations that come with living our lives for you and for others. By the power of your Holy Spirit, give us the words to say to those seeking, drawing them deeper in their curiosity about this Jesus, the life changer. Amen.


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Radical Love

Reading: Luke 6:27-36

Luke 6:35 – “Instead, love your enemies, do good, and lend expecting nothing in return. If you do, you will have great reward.”

Jesus defines behaving as God’s children by loving our enemies, by doing good to those persons who hate us, by blessing the people who curse at us, and by praying for the folks who mistreat us. He continues on, explaining how these actions become real. For Jesus, love is not a sentimental feeling. It calls us to offer the other cheek, to give our cost and our shirt, to give money without seeking or expecting repayment. To materially support those who hate, curse, and mistreat us? This is a deep and encompassing love that Jesus calls his followers to live out.

Why would Jesus call us to such a radical love? First, it is the love that he demonstrated in both his ministry and in his death on the cross. More practically, in verse 31 he says, “Treat people in the same way you want to be treated.” Jesus calls us to this radical love as a means to change hearts and to change culture. Loving in this way will attract attention and will raise questions in other’s minds. When this kind of love is given to our “enemies” it shows that this love is deep in our hearts. It is not founded upon the other person’s behavior but upon Christ in us. When we love all people with a radical love, then the compassion of the Father will then be our compassion. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, how great your love is for us. It is beyond measure and past comprehension. When we ponder this we are left in awe, able only to muster a meager “thank you.” Lord, empower us to reflect this love to others, drawing them towards that place of awe. In this way may you be glorified and praised. Amen.


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The Divine Nature

Reading: Leviticus 19:15-18

Leviticus 19:18 – “You must not take revenge or hold a grudge…Instead, you must love your neighbor as yourself.”

Much of what God has to say about living as holy people has to do with our relationships with one another. Today’s verses begin with a call to being just in matters of the law. God sees all people as equal and charges us to do the same: don’t show favoritism or reference to either the poor or to the rich. All people deserve the same justice.

We also read of some prohibitions. We are not to slander our neighbors. This would include gossip and judging – two sins that we easily fall into. We are not to hate our neighbors. This sin has many roots: greed, jealousy, envy… We are not to stand by while our neighbor is assaulted. We are not to stand by while our neighbor sins. We are called to strongly rebuke them. Failure to do so places some responsibility for their sin upon us.

Turning to verse 18 we read the second of the two great commandments. But first we read, “You must not take revenge or hold a grudge.” This is hard because it is woven into our human nature. When someone hits us, our first instinct is to hit back. This action, however, often starts a vicious cycle. Maybe it’s better just to harbor a grudge? No, this causes a deeper, nagging, lasting issue in our hearts. Reading on we come to God’s command: “Instead, you must love your neighbor as yourself.” There it is. Live into the divine nature also within us. May this be the path we choose to walk with all of our neighbors.

Prayer: Lord God, guide us to walk in your ways, loving others as you love us. Keep us free from bias and hateful words and actions. Fill us with empathy and compassion, with love and grace. Lead us to be people who stand for what is holy and just, speaking and acting in ways that promote these things in our lives and in our world. Amen.


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Love Them As Yourself

Reading: Leviticus 19:33-37

Leviticus 19:33-34: “When immigrants live in your land with you, you must not cheat them… You must love them as yourself.”

Photo credit: Wylly Suhendra

Leviticus 19 is titled “Living as Holy People” in my study Bible. The chapter is centered on the ethics of holiness and love and is grounded in God’s statement found in verse 2: “You must be holy, because I, the Lord your God, am holy.” In verses 33-37, today’s reading, the focus is on how one treats the immigrants living among you.

In the first two verses we see how the ethics of love and holiness should be applied to the immigrants living in the land: “When immigrants live in your land with you, you must not cheat them… You must love them as yourself.” There is a connection here to Israel’s time as slaves in Egypt. This becomes clear in the next verse. There is an element of “remember how poorly you were treated” being connected to “then don’t do that to others.” Our human nature can tempt us to pass mistreatment we’ve known along to those with less power or with less voice because Satan’s lie is that this behavior will somehow make us feel better.

In Egypt there were two sets of weights for the scales. A heavier set required the Israelites to produce more brick, harvest… to meet their work quotas. A lighter set yielded less when they bartered for needed items. Fair treatment is what God is calling Israel to in today’s verses. It is what we are still called to today.

Treating everyone the same is what we are called to do as we practice God’s ethics of love and holy living. We can be tempted to take advantage of or to mistreat those with less power or less voice and this can happen in many ways – economically, socially, politically. When tempted, may we remember the charge to “love them as yourself.”

Prayer: Lord God, help us to be holy as you are holy. Guide us to love others as you love us. May the way we treat the outsider, the powerless, the voiceless, the marginalized reflect how we would hope to be treated if we stood in their shoes. Empower us to stand for justice with compassion. Strengthen us to stand against prejudice and marginalization. Amen.


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Even Then

Reading: Hosea 1:7-11

Hosea 1:10 – “In the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ it will be said to them, ‘Children of the living God.'”

Hosea is a prophet to the northern kingdom , to Israel. He is the only such prophet with a book in the Bible. As Hosea speaks God’s word, Israel is in its last days. Their pride and idolatry are the causes of the coming downfall. Judah, the southern kingdom, isn’t too far behind. But Judah is currently more faithful than Israel.

While God’s compassion for Israel is gone, the prophet tells them, “I will have compassion on the house of Judah.” To relate this, it would be like living in the North during the Civil War and hearing God say, ‘I will bless the South.’ God goes on, through Hosea, to tell Israel that God will save Judah. The sweeping tidal wave called Babylon will only pour in over Israel.

We then read that Hosea’s wife Gomer will have a third child. This one is named “Not My People.” And God declares, “I am not your God.” While this sounds really bad, and it is, this is not the end of the story. In verse 10, God through Hosea says, “In the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ it will be said to them, ‘Children of the living God.'” And not only that! Israel and Judah will be reunited under “one head.” God’s plan has a beautiful conclusion, just as our story does. But for now Israel has some difficult refining to go through. Such is the case for us at times too.

Prayer: Lord God, there are and will be times when we wander down a wayward road. There are times when we must make you want to walk away from us. Who could blame you? But even then, even then O God, you love us through the darkness, calling us back to the light. You offer the grace that leads to mercy and forgiveness. What a wonderful God you are. Thank you. Amen.